But he declined to elaborate on the controversial talks aimed at a settlement in Afghanistan ahead of planned withdrawal of Nato troops from the war-ravaged country.

Mr Hague added that next year was an important one in which to push forward political reconciliation in Afghanistan, a move the UK strongly supported.

Peace talks between US officials and Taliban representatives began in Qatar in January to build mutual trust ahead of the military pullout.

But negotiations broke down two months later after the Taliban refused to agree to a deal in which their commanders released from Guantánamo Bay would not be returned to Afghanistan, but instead be incarcerate in Doha, the Qatari capital.